Eco-efficient Agriculture from Plant Pest and Disease Management Perspective

Gloria MosqueraRice and Bean Pathologist, CIAT

g.m.mosquera@cgiar.org

APPROACH:Development of plant material and agricultural practices to decrease the use of non-renewable resources, better management of pests, diseases and weeds control.

PARTNERSHIP:Engaging farmers, public, research institutions, government.

STATEMENT:Agriculture needs to be efficient without disturbing environment.

OUR TASK:To develop crops that can endure pests and diseases attacks; monitoring systems to be ahead of disease appearance

OUTPUT:“To produce the same or more using less of everything “

MealybugsPhenacoccus herreniPhenacoccus manihot

HornwormErinnyis ello

WhitefliesTrialeurodes variabilisAleurotrachelus socialisBemisia tabaciB. tuberculata

MitesMononychellus tanajoaMononychellus caribeanaeTetranychus urticeTetranychus spp

Examples of research helping the ecology: Cassava pests control

BACULOVIRUSBACULOVIRUS

Erinnyis elloErinnyis ello

Lecanicilium lecanii

eco-alternatives found at CIAT (Entomology)

-Research allowed the identification of “natural enemies” Baculovirus for hornworm Fungus L. lecanii for whiteflies Products based on Baculovirus and fungus are commercially available.

Rice farming as a model for eco-efficient crop (Pathology)

First case: Panicle blight disease (B. glumae)

Pathogen reported in Colombia in 1989

2007 economically important losses due to this disease.

How a harmless microorganism can gain importance?Climate change is the most likely explanation

Right Combination of humidity, temperature, and sunlight are predicted to be the foundation for epidemics

Monitoring climate conditions can help us to predict epidemics?

Second case: Blast disease (M. oryzae)

Most important disease affecting rice, distributed worldwide.

No durable resistance so far, fungicide application is a common practice

Resistance vs. Tolerance

Rice farming as a model for eco-efficient crop (Pathology)

Rice varieties that tolerate pathogen attack without affecting yield

:Remarks

CIAT research has been involved in the development of techniques to control pests and disease aiming to reduce chemical pesticides

.use

These activities will continue because pests and pathogens always will

.be a threat for agriculture

We need to join efforts to be able to anticipate pest and pathogen . .outbreaks Forecasting systems as a tool

Taking care of ecosystems needs to be mandatory in the future . !agriculture Be efficient and Go green